(A New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book of the Year) Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) lived a dark and dangerous life, more so than any of the great renaissance painters; this masterful account explores his staggering artistic achievements, his volatile personality, and his mysterious death at 38. Andrew Graham-Dixon, a presenter for six landmark series on art for the BBC, including A History of British Art and Renaissance, as well as a weekly columnist on art for more than 20 years, delved into original Italian sources—including criminal records—to create this profile of the mercurial painter, illustrated with 80 color plates of his work.

"A thrilling lesson in the art of seeing, a sensual exploration of the shadows of Caravaggio's sometimes violent but always Christian world, a detective story with a highly satisfying ending."—Peter Carey

"Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane reads like a historical-swashbuckler-cum-detective-story while also providing an up-to-date introduction to some of the most admired paintings in Western art."—Washington Post